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Access to Accommodation Fund: Grants for Local Housing Solutions

Access to Accommodation Fund: Grants for Local Housing Solutions

Access to Accommodation Fund: Grants for Local Housing Solutions

Monday, September 29, 2025

We are excited to share details of a funding opportunity, designed to enable smaller and grassroots organisations to unlock and create housing solutions they have identified within their local communities.

We have made available up to £500k for smaller frontline organisations. Funding of up to £100k per organisation will be available which can be spent over a maximum of a three-year period. This funding is available for organisations with an annual turnover of less than £2 million per year. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 7th November.

Information sessions for potential applicants to clarify funding criteria, talk through the process and answer any questions will be held on:

  • 3rd October 11am-12pm: please register here.
  • 7th October 2pm-3pm: please register here.

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is committed to ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home and the support they need.  

This new funding programme has been designed in direct response to evidence and insights from organisations and frontline workers, who continually report that insufficient housing options for people experiencing homelessness is one of the biggest challenges for frontline workers and the people they support.

Click below for more information about the Fund, including the application form.

More info & apply
.

The Access to Accommodation Funding Programme 

Over the past eight years, we have undertaken an annual Frontline Worker Survey to identify and address gaps in support for people experiencing homelessness and the frontline workers that provide support. We have consistently heard that there is a need to improve access to accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.

In our 2024 Survey, 92% of frontline workers said that they found it difficult or very difficult to obtain ‘suitable’ housing for the people they are supporting. Frontline workers also told us that helping people to access accommodation is getting harder with 58% of workers reporting their ability to help people access appropriate accommodation had decreased (up from 42% in 2022).

In response to our call for insights on this issue, three quarters of respondents mentioned the need for more accommodation and the shortage of affordable housing was repeatedly cited. Strong themes were also identified around community, social integration and connection as foundations that are often missing for those experiencing homelessness. 

In response to the insights and feedback shared, our core focus will be smaller, locally embedded charities who work with people facing homelessness and have been struggling to access accommodation for those they are working with and so have been seeking to develop new options. The purpose of this new fund is to test projects and approaches that may have the opportunity for wider scale and impact whilst supporting organisations to create longer term options in the current housing crisis.

Alongside funding, we will convene peer networks to promote good practice and effective housing solutions that are rooted within communities across the sector as part of our wider influencing work. We will also ensure learning and evaluation is embedded within this programme, through an external learning partner, who will work with grant partners to capture the learning and evaluation from this programme. We are committed to reflecting on the learning that emerges to develop, share learning and shape future funding priorities.

We have made available up to £500k for smaller frontline organisations to fund projects that meet the aims outlined above. This funding is available for organisations with an annual turnover of less than £2 million per year.

We’re inviting applications from organisations to fund projects that:

  • unlock or create housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness 
  • are locally-led solutions, developed and delivered by an organisation that is embedded within their community and is integrated within local services. 
  • are needs focussed, understanding the experiences of those facing homelessness and developing solutions that meet these needs.
  • involve people with experience of homelessness in the review, design and/or delivery of the project.
  • have the potential to create longer-term impact for both the organisation and/or local community.
  • may have the scope to be replicated more widely across the sector to help inform best practice.  

Information session on Friday 3rd October

Register here

Information session on Tuesday 7th October

Register here
.

Application Guidance and Form

To apply, please read our application form and guidance. Once you have filled in the form, please send it to heather.sandover@stmartinscharity.org.uk before 5pm on 7th November.

The document includes: 

  • An introduction to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity 
  • More information on the fund and criteria for applications 
  • A timeline of the application process 
  • The application form 

The deadline for applications is Friday 7th November 2025 at 5pm. 

Any questions can be directed to our Grants Manager, Heather Sandover at heather.sandover@stmartinscharity.org.uk  

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